The microformats IRC channel is hosted on the freenode.net server. See Joining a server and channel help for further information and use of client applications which provide additional services (authenticated nicknames, logging, etc.).

Logs

Recent logs of the Freenode #microformats IRC channel can be found at:

Bots on IRC

Greeting Bot

To display a brief description of who you are each time you join the channel, you can use “JiBot” to create a definition for your username. To do so pass the ?def command using something like the following convention (be brief):

?def jdoe is John Doe and can be found online at http://www.example.com

More information about using JiBot commands can be found on the jibot website

Getting started with IRC

Please note: These directions relate specifically to the services that Freenode offers. Other IRC servers may differ with the services they offer and how to operate them.

Joining a server and channel

Most clients will offer you a connection dialogue showing the required fields for connection. The details to connect to the server are:

Server: irc.freenode.net

Port: 6667 (usually default)

You should also fill in any fields to set your alias, real name and email address. If available, save these settings for later to speed up connecting in future.

Once connected, you will most likely be presented with the "MOTD" (message of the day). For the first visit, it is advisable to read this to find out about the server's policies and other important pieces of news and help, otherwise it can be ignored and you can either authenticate your alias or join a channel.

Your client may display to you a listing of all available channels. Locate #microformats and select to join, or type /join #microformats into the command line available to you in your client (where you've just been shown your connection).

Assuming you've connected correctly, you should now find youself in the microformats channel!

Creating a registered nickname

Registration means that a password becomes associated with your alias/nickname/sign-in name and from the point of registration authorisation is required to communicate using that alias.

Registration of a nickname is required for some channels, and should be done to protect your identity.

To register with Freenode, you must communicate with their service known as NickServ. The two basic command you will need to get started are:

For registration: /msg nickserv register password

For authentication (login): /msg nickserv identify password

With password being a value of your choice. You can also associate an email address with your nickname, which is optional, but advisable, should you want to request a password retrieval:

To add your email address: /msg nickserv set email email

Where email is your email address.

Your client may offer you an option to set your alias and password, so that you will not have to manually enter this information on each join. Refer to your client's help files for more on this.

These commands can be typed directly into the server window upon join, or whilst in a channel, just as you would normally send a message.

More detailed user registration command information can be found in Freenode's FAQ

Communicating

Sending a message to a channel may be as simple as joining the channel and typing into the window, just as you would with an Instant Messenger. You can refer to your client's help files for quicker/alternative methods of doing the following. For all clients the following commands are available (the parts in bold must be used, but are not seen by others):

meetups

The idea of having IRC meetups (a set time for a meeting on IRC) has been suggested by Ryan King, as it appears to work well for the WordPress community and may help us from time-to-time. As of yet, there are no plans to have meetups.

IRC and microformats

hCard

How do we maintain info about ircing in our hCards (nick, network, fav-channels?)?

presumably this would be done with a URL. - Tantek 18:42, 30 July 2009 (UTC)